Wednesday, March 31, 2010

At the end of each month we want to give you a 'heads up' of the books that will be used in the two upcoming months for several of our features: Little Books for Little Cooks, Now I Know My ABC's, and Once Upon a Book. These lists are to help you out so you can be looking for the books at your library, digging through your stacks in search of them, or order those 'must haves'!

Here are the books that we are planning to use during the months of April and May:

Monday, March 29, 2010

Little Books for Little Cooks is a bi-monthly feature that focuses on creating some edible fun with your little one. We will share a fun book to read with your little one along with a cooking activity to do that ties in with the featured book. Sometimes there may be actual cooking involved…and sometimes just fun!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

I originally posted this on April 21, 2009 on our family blog after teaching it to my teen girl bible study group a few days earlier.

I went back to read it this week wanting to prepare for my lesson with the children at Sunday School today and before Easter. Our children love to watch Miss Patty Cake's DVD about the Easter Eggs too.

I pray this blesses you and inspires you to go deeper with your children about our Savior's life, death and resurrection.

NOTE:This post is longer than any other I have written. I have spent more time on this than any other as well. I have been blessed by the time it has taken me to prepare this post. I pray it blesses every heart who takes the time to read it...whether in part or whole. Today God filled in all the gaps for me from the study I did with my teen group on Friday. He took me to verses, guided me on things to look up and research to back up what I shared with them. I can honestly say I will NEVER look at His life or resurrection the same again. Be blessed!

I know most of you have used Resurrection Eggs to teach your young children about Jesus' life leading up to His death. I had never heard of them until this year and bought them after Easter. I am now teaching them to our children each morning - one egg at a time.

However, I used them Friday night and God completely took over filling our hearts with much to think about. I pray this lesson blesses you too and that you don't look at the eggs the same - they are surely good enough to teach all of us the deep truths our Father has for us grown ups too.

Trust me all that I'm about to share with you has blessed me greatly today! I began this post at 7:30am and in between time with the children, doing four loads of laundry and changing diapers, making beds and I finally finished it at 3:00pm.

Egg #1 Donkey (represents Jesus prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 - "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Fear not daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey's colt." - John 12:15

The full story is told in Matthew 21:1-3 and 6-8 - where Jesus tells two of His disciples..."to go into village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me." They did as Jesus asked, placed their coats upon it and Jesus road into Jerusalem where a crowd had gathered placing their coats and palm branches down before Him. In Jesus' time when a King road into a town on a donkey - it meant peace. If they were riding in on a horse it meant war was coming. Jesus is the Prince of Peace.)

Here is what I shared: Donkey's are not easily trained animals. They can be very stubborn and often fight against being bridled. They are not well respected animals and most make fun of them. People use the phrase "don't act like a donkey (jack-a$$)" and God says "don't act like a fool". Before we go on - notice that His disciples did NOT ask Jesus why a donkey - they simply went and did as He asked.

What does our relationship with Jesus look like - are we fighting against what He says or asks of us? Are we acting foolish? Will others respect us or what we say if we are walking around being foolish?

If you are acting like a donkey who is stubborn or foolish - that is how others will treat you.

If you are acting stubborn and resisting the truths God is showing you in your life - He will allow the consequences of your foolishness. If you harden your heart to Him - slowly you will be unable to hear the directions He wishes to give you to keep you from going down the wrong path. Any path God is not leading us on or to - is the wrong path. Our foolishness is a sin against God.

But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.James 4:6-7

Egg #2 Coins (Matthew 26:14-16 - tells the account of Judas Iscariot going to the chief priests to get money for delivering Jesus into their hands. For a mere 30 silver coins - Judas went off to betray Jesus.)

Here is what I shared: How little does it cost for you to be taken away from your friendship with God? How much are you willing to give up with God for the world? How much are you letting friends and things of this world influence you vs allowing the truth to guide you? How easy is it for a boy to convince you to go against what you believe and know to be true? How easy is it for us to deny God when given the opportunity to share why we have chosen to follow after Him? Do others know that your heart is sold out for Jesus and because of that they should treat you differently than they might other friends?

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Jesus said: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in Me." John 15:4

"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:6

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:9

Egg #3 Cup (And He (Jesus) took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" Matthew 26:27-28

The wine was a symbol of His blood that would pay the price for all of our sins. Taking communion today is in remembrance of all that He has done for us - the blessing of His shed blood for all of our sins - past, present and future.)

Here is what I shared: What is inside of your cup? Is it the life of Christ? Is it His living water?

Our cups must remain cleansed at all times to be in fellowship with God. The cup He offers us is full of forgiveness, mercy and grace. What He fills it with is NEVER ending and will overflow when we allow Him to be filling our cups!

Are we filling our cups with the dirt and filth of this world? What do we put before our eyes? What do we allow into our minds? What do we spend our time doing? What do music do we listen to? What are the words telling us? Are they life breathing words or death to the soul and spirit?

Jeremiah 17:8He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

John 4:4-26 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."16 He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."17 "I have no husband," she replied.Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."19 "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."21 Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us."26 Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am He."

Egg #4 Praying Hands - (As they went to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to His disciples. "Sit here while I pray." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And He said to them "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch." Mark 14:32-34

He brought them with Him because He was so troubled and wanted their prayer support. How sad that they were unable to stay awake and pray with Him. He went off alone to pray to God. He knew that His death was coming. He was so distressed over the pain about to come that He sweat drops of blood. It saddens me that our flesh is so weak - and yet the Spirit is truly willing.)

Here is what I shared:

What did Jesus do when He was sad? He prayed and relied on God to bring Him peace.

What did Jesus do when He was being tempted? He prayed to God and relied on Him to give Him the strength He needed to avoid temptation.

What did Jesus do whenever He needed something? He went straight to His Father and asked Him to supply for all of His needs.

When Jesus was afraid He prayed to His Father. He trusted in God to protect Him and to take care of Him.

You know the song...when I am afraid I will trust You, I will trust in You, I will trust in You, though I am afraid I will trust in You, in God's word I will pray.

Jesus NEVER relied on Himself. Jesus being God put aside His divinity and walked this earth as a man - to show us how to live a sinless live empowered by God the Father through the gift of the Holy Spirit and Jesus living inside of us.

In John 17:20-26 Jesus is praying for us! Yes us!!! Go read and be encouraged!

Jesus' example of going to God for everything is how we are to live as well.

When we stop praying to God - our lives will begin to feel like a dried up dessert. That living water will stop flowing in and through our hearts. Our cups will be empty and we will begin to thirst for anything to fill it up.

When we stop praying to God we begin to rely on our resources vs. His. Which are perfect, holy and pure - full of grace!

When we stop praying to God our communication with Him stops. We slowly lose the ability to hear His voice and sadly we stop listening for it.

Prayer is the power of everything!

Prayer changes things - NOT God - but will most certainly change how we get through everything!

Prayers do not cause God to change His mind.

Prayer opens up the way for us to see things God's way vs our own.

God wants us to speak to Him about everything. Remember friends, there is nothing about us He doesn't know. Not one thing. Nothing is hidden from Him! Nothing! Trying to keep it to yourself is only leaving an opening for the enemy to grow a stronghold in your life - bondage to a sin - where prayer sets us free!

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:7-12

Egg#5 Leather Whip - (Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15 and John 19:1

Pilate did NOT want to have Jesus whipped - he told the Pharisee's and Jews that he was washing his hands of his blood and that it was on them. I wonder do you wash your hands too of the most precious blood ever spilled for you?)

Here is what I shared: Jesus took the correction for all of us. He took a beating that we should have to endure. Jesus loves us so much that He took all of the pain and suffering so that we could enjoy life vs death - which is the wage of our sins. We deserve death for how we live our lives. But that is NOT what Jesus wanted or God. God knew from the first sin of Adam that He would have to send His Son to once again bring upon freedom of sin for all of us - where we could be in constant fellowship with Him again! Thank YOU GOD - gosh I still can't comprehend all that He endured for me - and can never thank Him enough!

For the rest of our lives God will need to correct us. He must do this to keep us on His path. He does this because He loves us and wants the best for us. He allows us to reap the consequences of our bad choices. He uses those choices to teach us a lesson, so that hopefully we won't choose that again. If not, we will endure that lesson and correction again.

When we resist God's correction, we are rebelling against Him. We are being prideful. We are sinning against God. We are telling Him our way is good and we are OK without Him.

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

As you can see - God has strong warning for those who refuse His correction.

Leviticus 26:23 'If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me...

Job 36:10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.

Proverbs 29:15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Jeremiah 2:30 "In vain I punished your people; they did not respond to correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravening lion."

Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

Jeremiah 7:28 Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

Egg # 6 Crown - (Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters...and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it onto His head...and kneeling before Him, they mocked Him. Matthew 27:27-29

The crown they made for him was about 4" thick. Can you even imagine the pain this caused Him? Yet, He did not ask them to stop. He took all they had to give for us.)

Here is what I shared: Unlike Jesus we are not given a crown of thorns. We are given a crown bestoyed upon our heads for righteousness. Not of our own but His!

Do you walk around like you have a crown of thorns - where the world has taken over your heart? Do you walk around hiding the crown of jewels upon your head given to us by Jesus? Do you change crowns depending on who you are with?

Do you reject all that Jesus suffered for you? Do you reject that although He lived a sinless life, that He allowed them to beat Him, push the crown of thorns into His head, carried His cross to Calvary, and then died willingly for you?

When we try to live this life without Him as our Lord and Savior - we are saying what He endured is not enough. When we continue to walk in our sins - we are saying the very same thing. When we walk through trials gloomy and without hope, peace and joy - we are saying what He endured and His grace is not enough for us. We are calling Him a liar.

Have we forgotten in whom we belong?

1 Peter 2:9-10 says: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Proverbs 10:6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 12:4 A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Isaiah 51:11 The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 62:3You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Zechariah 9:16The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

1 Corinthians 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

2 Timothy 4:8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 3:11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Revelation 2:10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Egg #7 Nails in the Cross (So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is Aramiaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. John 19:16-18

The Romans developed spikes about 5 to 7 inches long with a squared shaft of 3/8 inch thickness for crucifixions. Three nails were used - one in each hand and one at his feet. Can you imagine the pain of enduring one nail being driven through your hand - let alone knowing two more were coming?)

Here is what I shared: In past studies we have nailed our sins to cross by hitting similar size nails that were used to hang Jesus on the Cross. With each contact our sins were being left at the feet of Jesus - where His precious blood would clean us from our sins. His blood paid the price for every sin - for everyone!

It is an awesome exercise - to keep a solid block of wood around and a nail - when your sins feel like they have gotten the best of you or maybe you have forgotten what He endured to wash away your sins - take out a hammer and nail all of it to the Cross. Pray and confess them all. Allow the power of His blood to wash you clean of your sins.

None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”13 In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:11-13

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.

When we nail them to Cross - just like Jesus said - "It is finished." It is Jesus + nothing. It is not you nailing it to the cross and then doing something else to make it right. Once forgiven always forgiven. You are not seeking forgiveness when you confess - you are repenting of your sins, humbling yourself before a Holy God and admitting that you have fallen short once again of His glory.

When we nail our sins to the Cross we must leave them there. We must not keep trying to pick back up those sins. We must trust in Him to restore us. We must trust in His promises to make all things new. We must trust in His word to set us free from the bondage of our sins. We must trust in Him to forget our sins - they are as far from us as the east is to the west.

They may have hung Him on the Cross - but it was Him giving up His Spirit to His Father that changed everything for all time. Jesus willingly gave us life on the Cross for us.

When you or I choose to sin against Him - we are mocking what He endured. No one makes us sin. God doesn't tempt us to sin.

James 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 4:15-17 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

1 Peter 3:17-18 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

Jesus died for all! Jesus didn't just die for a group or nation. Jesus died so that all could have life. There is power in the Cross - the saints of old looked to the cross with hope. Today we are looking back upon the Cross and receive all that He completed there for us!

Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 10:2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

Hebrews 10:16-18 This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Egg # 8 Die (When soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His garments (clothes) and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also His robe. But the robe was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." John 19:23-24

First, He was given up for 30 coins, beaten, a crown of thorns put into His head, they mocked Him, spit on Him, then carried His cross to Calvary, then they played a game to see who would His things. I would NOT want to be them standing before God on judgment day.)

Here is what I shared: Jesus despite knowing all that they were going to do to Him and then going through it - never showed anger. He showed the heart of Himself and God our Father - love - by praying for them. "Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34I asked the girls if they were willing to gamble on their lives - putting a part of themselves into the world and part in the hands of God? Were they willing to see if God honored them giving Him part of themselves? Were they willing to gamble on what has been given to them? Were they willing to treat all that God did for them as a game?

I have been reminded plenty that no one can serve two masters.

We are either serving ourselves or God.

There is NO compromise with God.

We are either willing to fully submit ourselves. Or we are not.

We are either willing to do His will or ours.

We are either willing to treat what He has given us as the greatest gift ever known - wearing it like a crown of jewels upon our heads for all to see or we are going to put it down and even willing to hide it at the back of our closets.

We are either going to nail our sins to the cross and seek His mercy and grace - or we are going to get comfortable sinning. Where we often begin to fear coming back to God. Remember to read my post NO Shame!

This life is not a game - there is no dress rehearsal or do over's. You only get to do this life once. You can either treat it with the respect or disrespect. You can either go through life alone or completely filled by God's glory - where peace, joy, hope and love never stop over flowing us!

Egg #9 Spear (So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. John 19:32-34

In Psalm 22:16-17 it was prophesized - "For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me."

Here is what I shared: Let's take it back to Luke 9:23 - am I dead to self? Am I denying myself? Does God need to keep prodding/stabbing me to ensure that I am fully broken and dead to self? Am I willing to be reminded of my constant need for Him? Do I accept the prodding and correction of my evil ways?

2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Acts 11:16-18 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

Romans 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Egg #10 Linen Cloth (When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, name Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud {cloth} and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Matthew 27:57-60

What Joseph did was brave and loving thing to do. Remember that the men who killed Jesus did not believe that He was the Son of God. But Joseph did believe and he wanted Jesus to have a proper burial. Joseph cared more about ensuring Jesus being buried like a King then the risk of getting in trouble with the soldiers.)

Here is what I shared: If God is your King and you are His Princess - what are you clothed in? The world or His righteousness? Self-righteousness or Christ's? Are you clothed to bring honor and glory to your King? Are you clothes to bring attention to you or Jesus?

Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Psalm 104:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

Proverbs 31:22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Matthew 25:36 I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.

Luke 24:49I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

2 Corinthians 5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Galatians 3:26-28You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Egg #11 Stone (And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended {came down} from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. Matthew 28:2-4

Not even the grave could hold Him from taking His throne waiting at the right hand of His Father. Not even a boulder so large {probably weighed more than a car} could stand in the way of Jesus being exalted above all other names. No guard or tomb was a match for God's angel. There is NO God like our God!)

Here is what I shared: Are there any boulders between you and God? Will you allow God to remove them? Will you use the boulders as excuses for not following after God? Do you complain about the boulders He has allowed in your life instead of counting it all joy and thanking Him for the opportunities to draw closer to Him?Job 36:11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

There is no boulder too big for God to move or work through for us. There is no problem He can't work in for our good and His glory. There is nothing keeping us from Go'd grace, mercy, joy, peace and love but ourselves.

If you are not experiencing these things - it is the death of our sins separating us from a holy God.

Isaiah 59:1-2 Separated from God

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

And here is the best news and how we can quickly get back into sweet fellowship with God:

1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Egg #12 Empty (But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay." Matthew 28:5-6

They believing went and saw the empty tomb. They ran to tell the others. With abundant joy knowing all that Jesus shared with His disciples at the last supper had come true and He was alive!! Just as He promised - He rose again on the third day. Just as He promised He came back. Just as He promises we will see Him again. God is NOT a man that He should lie. AMEN!)

Here is what I shared: When we reject God's way, His truths, His path for us, His will for us - our hearts are empty! When we don't spend time with Him daily - our lives are empty. When we don't get filled up by His living water (word) our cup of life is empty. When we don't remember to pray for strength to get through each day - our strength runs out quickly and we become frustrated, dejected, feel alone and pain takes over our lives.

Emptiness = Faithlessness

Obedience = Love

It takes obedience to remain filled up with Him. And the good news is obedience is divinely motivated from within. You don't have to rely on yourself for obedience - because God has given us Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide us, strengthen us and enable us to live godly lives.

God says, be Holy for I am holy. The only way we can even possibly do that is through and in Him. Because there is nothing good in us. Not one thing. The only good thing that remains in me is the love of Christ for me and through me.

I don't know about you - but I sure need all of them daily to be the wife, mother, daughter, friend and sister He is asking me to be. I'm not called to the standards of this world nor do I care to live by them. I know Who I will stand before and the only thing I desire to hear is "Good job, well-done, My faithful servant." Anything less will NOT be good enough.

Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Hebrews 3:6-9But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

Warning Against Unbelief

7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. "

Lexi sent me this picture that her science teacher shared and I loved it! Unlike this silly fish thinking he might get that burger - you and I can rest in the finished work of Jesus and claim the prize of victory over temptation and death! Thank You JESUS!

Father, I praise You for all that You spoke to me today. I praise You for allowing me the privilege to sit at Your feet today. I thank You that the only book I needed to learn all of this is Your book - one truth for all! I Thank You for giving me the time to put into this post for all that You know will come to read it. I pray that the words shared here will fall on soft hearts and ears - ready to hear and be changed. I pray that all who read this will share it with those who You have prepared for them. I pray that those who read this and do not know You intimately will see how much You desire to know them and have a relationship with them - NOT found in a religion or from man alone. Father, speak Your truths deep into the hearts of Your children. Father, I pray for the lost and lonely, the hurting and afraid, the sorrowful and down trodden, the rich and the healthy - that all may come to a saving relationship with You and know the blessing of the life and death of Your Son. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer and fulfilling every promise You make. Thank You for never changing and that all can stand on the solid Rock of Jesus! Father, break down the walls of those who have built them up against You, soften hearts once again - let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray this in Jesus' most blessed name. AMEN!

~I do not take email requests to be added to this list, these are just personal favorites I find online, you are welcome to leave any giveaway links (TOT FRIENDLY ONLY) in the comments below. Bolded items are things we actually own ourselves and love!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Summary: Follow along as the children are able to see beyond the commercialism of Easter as they learn of its true meaning! This is a great book to use to explain the true Easter story and how many of the celebrations of spring have been tied together with it. The story encourages both the celebration of Christ rising from the dead as well as the the celebration of spring!

Bible Verse

He is not here. He has risen, just as He said. Matthew 28:6a

Craft

Make a picture showing Jesus’ empty tomb! Draw two half circles (one small and one large) for the tomb. Draw a circle for the stone that was rolled away. Let your little one cut out the pieces. Glue to tomb onto construction paper and attach the stone with a brad.

Food

Make Resurrection rolls to represent how Jesus rose from the dead.

Ingredients:

• 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough

• 8 large marshmallows

• Melted butter

• Cinnamon

• Sugar

Directions:

1. Dip one marshmallow (which represents the body of Christ) in the butter.

2. Roll the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar mixture (which represent the oils and spices that were used to anoint Jesus’ body upon burial.)

3. Lay the marshmallow on one of the triangle shaped sections of crescent roll (which represents the tomb) and wrap it around the marshmallow.

4. Make sure all seams are pinched together well. (Otherwise the marshmallow will "ooze" out of the seams)

5. Bake according to package directions.

6. Cool.

7. Break open the tomb and the body of Christ is no longer there!!

8. Celebrate!!! Jesus is risen!!!

Resurrection Eggs

Make Resurrection eggs to help your child remember the Resurrection story. You can use this Resurrection Eggs Printable from Christian Preschool Printables.

On Resurrection Sunday give your little one an Easter basket with a Christian theme. Here are some ideas of what to put in your basket. Be sure to explain the meaning of each item to your little one!

A Lamb: This represents the Lamb of God who came to take away our sin.

Rock candy: This represents the stone that was rolled away.

Chocolate coins: This reminds us of the 30 pieces of silver.

Jelly Beans: Attach the jelly bean poem as a cute illustration of our risen Savior! The poem and instructions are found here.

An empty plastic egg: This is a reminder of the empty tomb. Write "He is Risen" on the outside of the egg. Story books: Choose books that represent the true story of Easter. Here are some great choices:

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